In American politics, "socialism" is mostly used by individuals who (1) do not understand what it actually is, (2) have no interest in understanding what it actually is, (3) have no expectation that their target audience understands what it actually is, and yet (4) expect their audience to react to its use in describing an opponent in exactly the same way they would if that opponent were labeled a wife-beater or a pedophile.

Perhaps the term "social democracy" is a more apt descriptive of what many feel that we are observing. But its evolution into socialism, or, perhaps, economic fascism, is what is feared and expected.

Too late. The Regressives have already devolved our society and economy into fascism. The government is in bed with the rich. That means the middle class is getting screwed. Just look around and you can see the effects; the rich continue to get richer since corporate profits have been rising steadily for the past 10 years. During that time wages have gone down. The Regressives have the nerve to claim they need to make MORE profits. They won't be satisfied until we have a completely stratified dystopia where one is either rich or poor. Nothing in the middle. They are too ignorant, and arrogant, to realize that once they have all the money there won't be any more profits. There will be no one to buy their products. They won the Monopoly game, but only at the ruin of everyone else. "Supply side" economics doesn't make sense, never has, and we now have undeniable proof it doesn't work.

Dave - Just a Man in the Mountains.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge. Isaac Asimov

I don't think that's too likely. We have one federal socialist party here, and it has never formed the government, and is not likely to, even though our right wing parties are somewhat to the left of the US Democrats. Actual socialism requires enough change that it is not really accepted, except in some limited areas, like electric power production, postal service, and some broadcasting, which is sometime handled by companies, and some times by Crown corporations - but even those are more or less arm's length from the government of the day.

"Socialism" and "socialist" became quite popular after Obama was elected.

I think, in many cases, people resorted to using those terms, because one can no longer in polite company use the colloquial slur to describe a person of dark skin pigmentation.

The use of the word "socialist" as a pejorative has been used by Republicons to attempt to smear Democratic presidential candidates goes back at least to the 1988 Bush v. Dukakis contest. It was used twice against Clinton unsuccessfully (as were the other smear campaigns against Clinton), successfully against Gore and Kerry, and unsuccessfully against Obama.

What I find interesting is that the original members of the Progressive movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were Republicans such as Senator John Sherman (R OH) who wrote the Sherman Antitrust Act (signed by Republican President Benjamin Harrison), and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

"To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture."-- Thomas Paine: The Crisis No. V (March 21, 1778)

"Socialism" and "socialist" became quite popular after Obama was elected.

I think, in many cases, people resorted to using those terms, because one can no longer in polite company use the colloquial slur to describe a person of dark skin pigmentation.

The use of the word "socialist" as a pejorative has been used by Republicons to attempt to smear Democratic presidential candidates goes back at least to the 1988 Bush v. Dukakis contest. It was used twice against Clinton unsuccessfully (as were the other smear campaigns against Clinton), successfully against Gore and Kerry, and unsuccessfully against Obama.

What I find interesting is that the original members of the Progressive movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were Republicans such as Senator John Sherman (R OH) who wrote the Sherman Antitrust Act (signed by Republican President Benjamin Harrison), and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

"Socialism" is a popular pejorative here in my state of Wyoming.

Which always amuses me, seeing how Wyoming gets more federal aid and subsidies than just about any other state.

What I find interesting is that the original members of the Progressive movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were Republicans such as Senator John Sherman (R OH) who wrote the Sherman Antitrust Act (signed by Republican President Benjamin Harrison), and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

And back in the 50s and early 60s, more Republicans were behind the Civil Rights movement than Democrats. A greater percentage of Republicans than Democrats voted in favor of the Civil Rights Bill inthe 60s.

So what the hell happened?

Oh, yeah, I know. All those southern Democrats became Republicans after about 1968.